Paisley Gilmour Street rail crash

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On April 16, 1979 at 19:50, the 19:40 Inverclyde Line service from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay operated by two Class 303 trains crossed from the Down Fast Line to the Down Gourock Line under clear signals at Wallneuk Junction immediately to the east of Paisley Gilmour Street railway station. It collided head-on by the 18:58 Ayrshire Coast Line special service from Ayr to Glasgow Central formed of two Class 126 diesel multiple units, which had left Platform 2 against a red signal P31.

The DMU had started away from the platform with the signal at Red. A type of SPAD (signal passed at danger) accident known as ding-ding, and away. This accident prompted British Rail to change the Rules so that the bell or "Right Away" signal is only given when the Starting signal has been cleared^[1].

Both drivers and five passengers were killed. 67 passengers and the guard of the Class 303 were injured and were taken to hospital^[2]. Only three of these remained in hospital^[2].

Immediately after the accident the power was turned off on the Inverclyde Line; and a bus service substituted between Paisley St James and Paisley Gilmour Street station. A number of trains were trapped west of Paisley St James, and normal train services ran between Paisley St James and Gourock and Paisley St James and Wemyss Bay.

The Ayrshire Coast services were diverted onto the Paisley Canal Line^[2], which at that time was running services from Glasgow Central station to Kilmacolm, rejoining the Ayrshire Coast Line at Elderslie junction.

Both lines were handed back for normal operations at 23:00 on 17th April^[2].

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